Amy & Roger's Epic Detour Review

Monday, August 22, 2011

Title: Amy & Roger's Epic Detour
Author: Morgan Matson
Publisher: Simon & Schuster BYR
Publish Date: May 4, 2010
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 352
Source: Personal Copy

Amy Curry thinks her life sucks. Her mom decides to move from California to Connecticut to start anew--just in time for Amy's senior year. Her dad recently died in a car accident. So Amy embarks on a road trip to escape from it all, driving cross-country from the home she's always known toward her new life.

Joining Amy on the road trip is Roger, the son of Amy's mother's old friend. Amy hasn't seen him in years, and she is less than thrilled to be driving across the country with a guy she barely knows. So she's surprised to find that she is developing a crush on him. At the same time, she's coming to terms with her father's death and how to put her own life back together after the accident.
Amy's life is anything but upbeat. After the sudden death of her father, her mother packs up and moves to Connecticut to start fresh. Amy was left in California to finish her junior year, but has to journey across the country in the family car driven by Roger, a guy she barely knows. She's certain things are going to go from bad to worse, and her luck has officially run out. But along the way, Amy and Roger learn that know matter how hard they plan and carefully they detail the road to home and a new life, there are always unexpected twists and turns that throw one for a loop in the best possible way.

I've never been a summer-read kind of girl. I just haven't been. I like my books to be dark and issue-heavy, and while this had all the makings of being a true issue book, Amy & Roger's Epic Detour managed to feature an upbeat, bittersweet and entirely realistic tone. Morgan Matson has painted a true-to-life picture of a girl dealing with grief in her own way and her own time. Chronicling Amy's journey to peace, Amy & Roger's Epic Detour is true to its title; it's epic, it's loving and it's a story that promises to make your heart soar with hope and happiness.

There were so many good things about Amy & Roger's Epic Detour that I'm sure I'll miss a few, but I want to try to explain what made the book so great for me. First off, Amy is a brilliant character. She's well-rounded and her grief, though apparent, isn't all-consuming or overbearing. It's a subtle undertone that courses through her actions and inactions that draws the reader into her story. Likewise, Roger was solid and reassuring without being some huge rock that saves the damsel in distress. Their relationship was quirky at best, as well as very cute and unassuming. The writing of Amy & Roger's Epic Detour was spot on. Fluid and fun, sprinkled with illustrations and receipts, postcards and napkins, Amy & Roger's Epic Detour spins the reader on a cross-country journey that is engaging, mesmerizing and has you feeling like a part of the journey. Plus, if I might add, the musical playlist scattered through the book is phenomenal.

Overall, Amy & Roger's Epic Detour was a fantastic book. Well-written and featuring a great theme without ever being overwhelming or overdone, it's a beautiful and heartfelt story. I give it a 5 out of 5, and it's up there in my top contemporaries of all time. I highly recommend it to fans of YA, especially those who enjoy contemporary fiction.

29 comments:

  1. I am in complete agreement with you a bout this book (and about seeming to prefer darker stories). I was actually camping while I finished this book at about 2am with a lantern; that's my testament to how much I enjoyed it - and the fact that I'm giving it away to spread the love! I'm glad to see you enjoyed it, too. :)

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  2. Ooh yes, I adoreee this book -- so glad you enjoyed it as well, Melissa. I re-read it a couple of months ago and I loved it just as much the 2nd time. I love the characters and all the different locations and the playlists... just so many great aspects!

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  3. I always assumed this one was just a cute, fun read. This is the first time I'm hearing about a death. Sounds like it adds some depth to the story without being overbearing. And I love books that come with a playlist!

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  4. Great review! I have this one on my shelf but haven't gotten around to reading it yet. I'll have to pick it up soon :)

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  5. Gorgeous review! You summed up the mood of Amy & Roger's Epic Detour perfectly :)

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  6. Absolutely loved this one too. Amy was an amazing gal and Roger was the perfect road trip buddy. Cannot wait to read more from this author.

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  7. I so need to read this! Everyone raves about it. Roger sounds like a great guy. I like that their relationship is quirky. And a musical playlist in a book sounds perfect.

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  8. I truly adore this book. It's one of my favorite contemps EVER. Summer roadtrip books are always a win for me, but this one in particular went beyond just that. The characters felt so real to me and I really lost myself in their own personal journeys. How awesome was the music playlists?! LOVED that. Great review Melissa!

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  9. I've had this one to read for ages, but haven't managed to get to it yet. I love the sound of it - I like contemporary, and I like that this is a fun read that also touches on more serious issues. Great review, glad you enjoyed it :).

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  10. I've always favored the darker books too, the ones that are a bit gritty intensely emotional and make me think about them for days. That being said, I've heard nothing but good things about this one so I think I need to give it a try:)

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  11. I loved this book so much and I'm glad you did too. My husband and I actually used most of the songs for our own playlist on our road-trip. It's the book that keeps being awesome way after you put it down :)

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  12. Yay! So glad you loved it! I loved it when I read it last year and I think it's one I wouldn't mind rereading every summer. Or maybe every other summer...
    I sent my copy out for a tour and someone must have REALLY loved it because they never sent it on :( So I really need to get my hands on a new copy.
    Anyway, great review!

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  13. I completely agree! Loved this book. <3 Glad to see you loved it, too! :)

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  14. I am starting to think you are like a friend I have with that issue and dark comment. While I like it light and fluffy

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  15. My gosh! I have still have not read this book. Even after reading amazing reviews, like yours, I need to read it! Thanks for the review!

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  16. So glad you enjoyed this one, Melissa. I've seen a whole bunch of reviews, but I never actually 'read' any, haha. Great review, I'm definitely going to have to look into it!

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  17. I like the sound of this one! I am loving contemporary fiction right now. Will add it to my TBR.

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  18. I so want to read this. Esp after your review. I have heard so many great things about it. Will def be getting my own copy soon.

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  19. I really need to read this book. It has received nothing but glowing reviews from several bloggers. I also like dark books but I also want them to have a hopeful ending (is that a copout?). Maybe I'm really am an optimist underneath my cynicism. :) Fabulous review!

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  20. 5/5! Yes! This was one of my fave books last year...glad you loved it too!

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  21. I have read so many great things about this one! I'm so glad you were a "summer-read kind of girl" and enjoyed this one! It's nice to take a break from issues once in awhile! I loved all the reasons you loved it and it makes me want to read it right now!

    Heather

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  22. I'm so glad you gave it a 5/5! I love it too, really great story.

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  23. I think I am one of the only people in the world who didn't enjoy this one. Though I did love that it had such a neat playlist and I loved the roadtrip. More books should have both of those aspects.

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  24. I loved this book, it's one of my top reads! Great review!

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  25. It seems like nearly everybody loved this book. I can't wait to give it a shot myself! Glad you enjoyed it, Melissa!

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  26. Great review! I just finished this one and I loved it! The roadtrip bit definitely was a nice touch and I loved the playlists, photos etc :)

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  27. I think I probably say this every time I notice that you give a Contemporary novel a 5, but I have to say- It makes my heart happy to see you loving Contemporary! This really was such a great, fun book!

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  28. I'm convinced. Next time I'm at the bookstore or buying books online, I'm getting this one. It sounds too wonderful to pass up,

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